Starting mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



N. A; CHRISTENSEN.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILEDQIUNE I, 1911.

, 1 85,87%, Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Inventor.

'TW @JLW 442 4, u/ Q 53/ fvjfgaw B5 attorneys,

N. A. CHRISTENSEN.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPUCATION FILED JUNE I. 1911.

1,1 85,874. Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2' a N Ill" g E O R N 03 Bani I c l :5? 0 H M Li 5 7 W. O s 8 O NI Witness'es; r In-v ento-r.

N. A. CHRISTENSEN.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I, I911- I 1,]. 85,874. Patented June 6, 191T.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 W117 neJRS'eS Tm! PAW fittarneyd'.

N. A. CHRlSTENSEN.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION 111121) JUNE 1, 1911.

Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 41 inventor, Wag By W x225;

Witnesses: 11111111 w is aittorn e36.-

-combustion engine is NIELS A. CHRI$Z I"ENSE1\T, F MILWAUKEE, WISCON$IN.

STARTING MECHANIEFILFQR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

messes.

Application filed June 1, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NIELS A. CHRISTENSEN, a citizen of the Kingdom of Denmark, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Mechanism for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates more particularly to compressed fluid as distinguished from mechanical and electrical starting devices.

In common with other devices of this class, its main object is to avoid the labor, trouble and danger incident to cranking and starting gasolene or internal combustion engines, and accessory to such main object, further objects of the invention are. to introduceinto the engine cylinder or cylinders on the power or firing strokes of the piston or pistons, in an uninterrupted series of successive charges, a starting fluid carbureted and compressed to the required degree for ignition and to successively ignite such carbureted charges in proper order on the firing strokes of the pistons without repeated manipulation of the apparatus, thereby utilizing the explosive energy of the starting fluid and avoiding tne necessity of high initial compression thereof and a reservoir of large capacity therefor; to utilize the ordinary carburetor with which an internal provided without change or'addition except a simple pipe connection for supplying the mixture to the compressor by which such mixture is compressed to the required degree for ignition; o render the starting mechanism including hat for compressing the starting fluid inctive and thus avoid unnecessary wear Lei-est and waste of power during the nornal ope'ation of the engine, and generally .0 improve the construction and operation of apliiaratus for the main object above stated.

The invention consists in the construction, a angement and combination of parts as :einafter particularly described and defined in the claims.

in. the accompanying drawings like characters designthe or similar parts 1n eral :igures. nre i is a side elevation of a four-cyl- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6', 18916.

Serial No. eaaeao.

inder gasolene engine to which starting mechanism embodying the invention is-applied, the auxiliary carbureter being shown in section and the reservoir broken away; Fig. 2 is an end elevation 'of the engine and starting'mechanism, the compressor being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a section on the line AA Fig. 5, of mechanism for controlling the operation of the distributing valves; Fig. 4c is asection on the line BB Fig. 5, of the distributing valve mechanism, showing the valves in condition for action; Fig. 5 is a section on the line CC Figs. 2 and 3, of said mechanism; Fig. 6 is a section on the line D-D Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 7 is a section on the line EE, Fig. 6, showing the distributing valves in inactive condition;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line F-F, Figs.

2 and 9,'of mechanism for starting and stopping the compressor; Fig. 9 is a sect-ion. on

the line GG, Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a section on the line HH, Fig. 2, showing the outwardly closing spring-seated check valve in the starting connection of one of the cylinders; Fig. 11 is a section on the line 1-1, Figs. 1 and 12, of the drivers or controlling valve; Fig. 12 is a section on the line .l-J,

Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a section on the line K-K, Fig. 11; Fig. 14- is a section on the line L'-L, Fig. 13, showing the drivers valve in position to connect the compressor with the reservoir; Fig. 15 is a similar section showing said valve in position to connect the reservoir with the distributing valves; Fig. 16 is a face view of the drivers valve seat; Fig. 17 is a face view of the drivers valve; Fig. 18 is a partial elevation and section showing a modified arrangement of the auxiliary carburetor; Fig. 19 is a section similar to Fig. 6, showing a modification of the distributing valve mechanism; Fig. 20 is a face view of a slight modification of the drivers valve seat such as is used with the arrangement of the auxiliary carhureter shown by Fig. 18; and Fig. 21 is a corresponding face view of a slight modifization of the drivers valve used with the arrangement of carbureter and form of seat shown in Figs. 18 and :20.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a designates the cylinders. in the present case cast in pairs, 7) the carbureter, c the throttle valve lever, (l the manifold connecting the carbureter with the engine cylinders, c the magneto, and f the crank shaft of a engines of this class areusuallye'quipped, is employed to ignite the carbureted fluid charges on successive firing strokes of the piston in startin'gthe'engine.

The starting mechanism comprises a com pressor-g having, as shown in Fig. 2, a piston h driven by a crank i, which may be con- 7 nected manually or by an automatic control ler with a rotating part of the engine such as the magneto driving shaft y'Q For this purpose a rotary and reciprocative clutch member k confined in a bearing orhou'sing between the shaft of the crank i'and the driving shaft j, is shown in Fig. 2. .1 This clutch member is provided atone end with a tongue which is in constant engagementwith a cross slot in the'crankshaft and at the otherend with a shorter tongue which is adapted to be shifted into and out of engagement with a cross slot in the driving shaft j. The member 7c is formed with circular rack teeth meshing with a pinion Z on a short shaft arranged transversely to the axis of member 7a and provided as shown in Fig. '8, with a pinion m. The pinion m'engages, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, with rack teeth on a piston or movable part a, fitted to work in a cylinder or pressure chamber 0, which is attached to the crank case or frame of the compressor. The piston or part a is preferably made tubular or hollow, being open at one end and closed at the other, which has a small opening or leak passage p. The cylinder or chamber 0 is provided at the end adjacent to the closed end of the piston with a port 9 and at the opposite end with a packing ring or disk 7-, against which the open end of the piston bears when it is shifted to start the compressor. When the piston is pressed, against this ring or disk, a fluid-tight joint is formed aroundthe open end of the piston fora purposehereinafter explained. The pinion shaft is provided with an arm or handle 8, as shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 9, for manually operating the clutch member 76 and connectingthe crank shaft :of the compressor with the driving shaft 3'.

The compressor cylinder is connected by a suction' pipe t with the carbureter b just belowor in advance of the throttle valve which controls the supply of gas from the carbu:

reter to the. engine cylinders in the normal operation of the engine. The discharge port of the compressor provided as shown in Fig.

2 with a valve u, is connected as shown in Fig. 1, by a pipe 1) with the drivers valve w, and the pipe 'v is in turn connected by a branch 00 with'the port 9 of the controller cylinder or chamber 0. The pipe 0: is also provided as shown in Fig. 1, with a valve "controlled connection y whereby the compressor may be utilized or inflating automobile tires or for other purposes.

A reservoir 2 is connected as shown in Fig. 1, by a pipe 2 with the'drivers valve w, so that by the proper adjustment of said valve as hereinafter explained, the reservoir may be charged by the compressor with air, gas

/ or an explosive-mixture at a pressure suitconnection with the magneto, as is necessary for illustration, is illustrated in a conventional manner at Ign. in Fig. 2 of the draw mg. I

Referring to Figs. 3, 4:, 5, 6 and 7 in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, the distributing valve mechanism for controlling and properly timing the delivery of the explosive starting mixture to the engine cylinders comprises four radially movable valves3, guided and provided with seats in radial chambers of a case 4;. The outer ends of the valve chambers are closed by caps 5, and springs 6 interposed between the caps and the valves tend to. close the valves and hold them, against their seats. The valve chain bers outside of the valve seats are connected by ports or passages -7 and 8 as shown in Figs. 3, 4: and 7, with a cylinder or pressure chamber 9, with which the valve case is formed or provided. The valve chambers are connected inside of thevalve seats by passages or ports 10, shown. in Figs. 3, 4:, 6

and 7, and by pipes 11 shown in Figs. 1 and I the cam shaft 14 of the engine, projects into a central opening of the valve case 4 in position to engage with the inner ends of the stems of the distributing valves 3 and to open said valves one after another when they are released and in working condition.

To hold the distributing valves out of ac: tion'during the normal operation of the engine and to release and permit their operation by the cam 13 for starting the engine, a cam 15 rotatably confined in the valve case 4 in line with the cam shaft 14,-is adapted, when turned in one direction, by engagement with lateral pins or projections 16 on theivalve stems, to move and-hold them out of the path of the cam 13 as shown in Fig; 7, thereby rendering the distributing valves inactive. When the cam, 15 is turned in the ried back into the path of the cam 13. The.

cam 15 is formed or provided as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and-6, with a pinion 17, engaging with rack teeth on the stem of a piston 18, fitted in the cylinder or pressure chamber,9,' said stem being tubular and guided trans versely to the axis of the cam 15 in a contracted extension of said cylinder or'cham her, as shown in 'Fig. 3. A spring 19 inserted in the tubular stem of the piston 18 tends to shift said piston to the right, as shown in Fig. 3, and to turn the cam 15 into position as shown in Fig. 7, to hold the distributing valves 3 open and render them in active. The port or passage 8 is arranged as shown in Fig. 3, to be closed by the piston 18 when it is moved to the right and held in its normal position by the spring 19, and said piston is formed around its stem with a beveled face or shoulder which seats against a 10, to close the starting connections of the engine during its normal operation when the distributing valves 3 are held open. 7

The drivers valve 20 as shown by Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, comprises a base plate 21, a seat 22, and a recessed cap or cover 23, forming with the seat a closed'chamber and bolted therewith to the base plate 21. The base plate 21 and the seat 22 are formed with a central opening 2%, with which the pipe 2 is connected, as shown in Fig. 1. They are also formed with ports 25, 26, 27 and 28, the ports 25 and 27 being, connected by the pipes 41 .and 12 respectively with the compressor 9 and with the pressure chamber 9 of the distributing valve controller. The ports 26 and 28, opening to the atmosphere, are exhaust ports. A rotary valve disk 29, having a short stem fitted to turn in the central opening 24 in the valve seat, is formed as shown in Fig. 17, with a central port 30 passing through said stem and communicating with the opening 24 with which the reservoir 2 is connected. It is also formed with a through port 31, and in its working face with cavities 32 and 33. The port 31 is adapted in one extreme position of said valve disk to register with the port 25 in the valve seat 22, as shown in Fig. 14, and in the'other extreme position of said disk to register with the port 27 in said seat, as shown in Fig. 15. In themiddle or neutral position of said valve disk the ports 25 and 26 are connected by the cavity 32 and the ports 27 and 28 are connected by the cavity 33 while the port 31 is closed. The valve disk29 is operated by a stem 34 which is fitted to turn in a tubular neck on the cap or cover 23 and provided at its outer end with a handle 35.

To enrich the starting mixture, the 'apparatus is preferably provided with an auxiliary carbureter 36, which as shown in Fig. 1, may be located between the drivers valve 3 'w and the reservoir 2 and connected with the is provided with a check valve 39 which closes toward the reservoir .2. The branch 38 leads outwardly from the upper part of the carbureter above the normal liquid level therein, and the pipe 2 is provided witha check valve 40 opening toward the reservoir 2. Bythis arrangement of connections and check valves the compressed air, gas or mixture'on its way fnom the compressor 9 to the reservoir 2, flows through the pipe 2,

by way of the branches 37 and 38 through i the carbureter 36, the check valve 10 being closed and preventing itsflow directly through the pipe 2. This carbureter is provided with a valve-controlled filling connection 42, by which it is supplied with gasolene from time to time as required.

In place of locating the auxiliary carbureter between the drivers valve w and the reservoir .2, it may be located in the pipe connection 12 between the drivers valve and the distributing valves, as shown in Fig. 18. With this arrangement the by-pass around the carbureter may be omitted, and in order to prevent the back flow of gasolene from the carbureter andits escape through the drivers valve, the exhaust port 28. in the Valve seat 22'is closed or omitted, as shown in Fig. 20, and the cavity 33 in the valve disk 29 may be omitted, as shown in Fig. 21.

Instead of lifting and holding the distributing valves away from their seats in order to" render them inactive during the normal operation of the engine, the cam by which they are actuated instarting the engine may be shifted out .of operative position.

' Referring to Fig. 19 showing a modification of the distributing valve actuating and 35 the opening in the valve case around the cam Fats controlling mechanism, the cam 43'by which the distributing valves 3 are actuated for starting the engine, is mounted and movable 44 has a central pivot seated in or against the piston. The cam with the piston is thrust outward and held normally out of operative relation to the inwardly project'- ing stems of the valves 3, by a spring 48 in-' serted between the outer end of the stem 44 and the outer end of the hub of the cam.

The cylinder or chamber is connected through a port 49 with the drivers valve to, by pipe 12, Fig. 1 or 18.

The inner end of the cam is beveled or inclined so that when it is shifted by the piston 46 into operative position it will thrust whichever of the valve stems may be in its path outward and'open the corresponding valve 3. The inner end of the piston when it is thrust inwardly by the admission of compressed gas into the chamber 47 is pressed and held tightly against a seat or shoulder at the inner end of said chamber, thereby preventing the escape of gas through shaft. The piston in, its outer and normal position closes theport 8 and in its inner position opens said port.

The apparatushereinbefore described operates as follows: The reservoir 2 having been charged at a suitable pressure, say from 7 0 to 90 pounds, as indicated on a gage (not shown) by the compressor 9, and the valve disk 29 being in its middle or neutral position, as shown in Figs. 1, 11, 12 and 13, closing the connection with said reservoir and connecting the compressor controller and the distributing valve controller with the atmosphere through the pipes o and 12, the ports 25 and 26 and cavity 32 and the ports 27 and 28 and cavity 33 respectively, to start the engine the disk 29 is turned by the handle 35 to the left into the position shown in Fig. 15. In this position the port 31' 11 ineaeva The shifting of the piston 18 into the position shown in Fig. 3, as above stated, operates through the pinion 17, Figs. 3, 5 and 6, to turn the cam 15 into the position indicated by dotted lines Fig. 3, thereby disengaging the pins 16 and releasing the distributlng valves 3, all but one of which will be instantly closed by the springs 6,, as shown in Fig. 4. One of said valves being held open by the engagement of its stem with the high part of the cam 13, the mixture passes by way of the associated port or passage 10, pipe 11 and check valve 20, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 10, into the cylinder a, whose piston is on its power or firing stroke and in which a series of electric sparks are being produced by the igniting apparatus, in the usual way. In engines of this kind to which the starting mechanism herein described is applicable, the crank shaft naturally and usually comes to rest within the range of about 135 degrees of its angular movement, so that the piston in one of the cylinders will almost invariably stand on its power or firing stroke in proper position for starting, and the circuit of the spark plug in that cylinder will be closed.

The explosive mixture or starting fluid upon entering the cylinder under the condithe drivers valve will ordinarily be turned to starting position for an instant or a very short time only. When it is turned back to its middle or neutral position, thereby clos-= ing communication between the distributing valve mechanism and reservoir 2 and Gar opening the pipe 12 to exhaust through the port 28, the piston 18, Fig. 3, will be relieved of pressure and shifted by the spring 19 back to its normal position, covering the port 8. This movement of the piston 18 operates through the pinion 17 to turn the cam 15 into the position shown in Fig. 7 in which. by engagement with the pins 16 it forces the stems of the distributing valves 3 out of the path of the cam 13. The distributing valves 3 are thus held open and inactive during the normal operation of the engine. The air forming a part of the starting mixture may be carbureted either before or after compression, or both before and after compression.

in order to insure a rich mixture for the first charge in starting, the apparatus is preferably supplied with an auxiliary carshifted manually by means of the arm or bureter located and connected, so that the preliminary mixture will pass through it on its way fromthe reservoir 2 to the engine. It may be located and connected as shown in Fig. 1, between the reservoir and drivers valve, or it may be located and con nected as shown in Fig. 18, between the distributing valve mechanism and the drivers change in or addition to the carbureter exthe springs 6.

cept a connection for the compressor.

To charge the reservolr z, the drivers valve is turned while the engine 1s running,

into the position shown in Fig. 14, in which the port 31 of the disk 29 registers with the port 25 of the seat 22, thereby connecting the reservoir through the pipe '1; with the discharge of the compressor 9, and also through the branch pipe 00 and the port 9, Figs. 1 and 9, with the cylinder or chamber 0. If there is sufficient pressure in the reservoir it will shift the piston 92 to its extreme position away from the port 9, thereby operating through the pinions m and. Z to shift the clutch member is into engagement.

with the driving shaft j. The compressor will thus be automatically started by the proper manipulation of the drivers valve to charge the reservoir. If however, there is insufficient pressure in the reservoir to start the pump in this manner, the piston n will be handle a, which is turned to the right or clockwise, for this purpose. When the desired pressure as indicated by the gage, has

been reached in the reservoir 2, the drivers valve is turned into its middle or neutral position, Figs. 11, 12 and 13, thereby closing communication between the reservoir and compressor and connecting the pipe 2) through the port 25 and cavity 32 with the exhaust port 26. The compressed fluid being thus released from the chamber '0 through the port g, the expansion of the gas confined in the hollow piston a which is sealed at its open end by the packing ring or disk r, will shift said'piston back to its original or normal positionshown in Fig. 9, the confined gas escaping gradually through the restricted passage p till the pressure within the piston is reduced to that of the atmosphere. This movement of the piston 12. operates through the pinions mand Z to shift the clutch is out of engagement with the drivshaft 3' and thus automatically stops the' compressor. i

The apparatus may be provided with an automatic pressure regulating device by which when the pressure in the reservoir 2 attains a certain limit, the chamber 0 will be opened to exhaust through the port 9 and the compressor stopped without manipu lation of the drivers valve or attention on the part of the driver.

With the modified form of distributing valve {mechanism and controlling device shown in Fig. 19 theoperation of the apparatus is substantially the same as hereinbefore described in connection with the distributing valve mechanism and controlling device shown inFigs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. N ormally the valve actuating cam 43 is held by the spring 48, as shown in Fig. 19, out of operative relation to the stems of the distributing valves 3, which are held closed by In starting the engine when the compressed gas or mixture isadmitted from the reservoir 2 through, the drivers valve a, pipe 12 and port 49 into the cylinder or chamber 47, the piston 46 with the cam 43 is shifted to the right, thus carrying the cam into operative position relative to the stems of the valves 3 and opening whichever of said valves isconnected with the cylinder in which the piston is on its power or firing stroke. As soon as the engine is in motion the valves 3 function, as hereinbefore explained, to admit the compressed explosive mixture to the several cylinders in the proper firing order on the power stroke of their pistons. When the drivers valve. is turned back to its middle or neutral position after starting the engine, and the compressed gas is released from the chamber 47, the

cam 43 with the piston 46 will be forced back to its original inoperative position by' the spring 48. I When the piston 46 is shifted to the. extreme right, it is seated against the inwardly projecting shoulder at the inner end of the chamber 47 and thereby pre vents leakage of. the compressed explosive mixture through the opening in the valve case around the cam shaft 14. The piston 46 like the piston 18 in the other form of controlling device hereinbefore described, controls the port or passage 8 through which the. I

compressed mixture is delivered to thedistributing valve chambers outside ofthe valve seats.

.With the arrangement of auxiliary carburetershown in Fig. 18 and the modified form of drivers valve shown in Figs. 20 and 21, the operation of the starting apparatus is substantially the same as hereinbefore explained, except that the compressed air or mixture on its way from the reservoir 2' to the engine first passes through the drivers valve, and when said valve is turned back to its middle or normal position the '20, so that the piston 18 or the piston 46 will in a short time be shifted back to its normal position and thus render the distributing valves inactive, as hereinbefore explained.

Various changes other than those hereinbefore mentioned, in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the apparatus may be made within the principle and scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a reservoir for compressed fluid, a distributer connected with said reservoir and the engine cylinder, said distributer including valve actuating mechanism having adriving connection with the engine, and a distributer valve for admitting successive charges of fluid from the distributer to the engine cylinder on the firing stroke for'starting the engine, means controlling the connection between the distributor and-the reservoir and controlling the operative connection between said valve actuating mechanism and the distributer valve, and an igniting device for igniting the combustible charge on the firing stroke of the engine.

2. in a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a reservoir for'compressed fluid, a distributer connected with said reservoir and the engine cylinder, said distributer includin valve actuatin mechanism having a driving connection with the engine, and a distributer valve for admitting successive charges of fluid from the distributer to the engine cylinder on the firing stroke for starting the engine, a piston valve operable by compressed fluid from the reservoir and controlling the connection between the distributer and the reservoir and controlling the operative connection between said valve actuating mechanism and the distributer valve, and an igniting device for igniting the combustible charge on the firing stroke of the engine.

. 3. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a reservoir and means for supplying the reservoir with compressed combustion supporting fluid, a distributes for compressed fluid connected with said reservoir and the engine cylinder, a carbureter for supplying the compressed fluid with volatile fuel, a valve in the distributer for supplying successive charges of 'compressed fluid from the distributer to the engine cylinder on the firing stroke for start" nieaeve ing the engine, a valve controlling the connection between the distributer and the reservoir, and an igniting device for igniting the combustible charge on the firing stroke of the engine.

4. In a starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a reservoir and means for supplying the reservoir with compressed combustion supporting fluid, a distributer for compressed fluid connected with said combustion engines, a reservoir and means for supplying the reservoir with compressed combustion supporting fluid, a carbureter for supplying fuel for said fluid, a distributer connected with said reservoir and the engine cylinders, said distributer including valves for admitting charges of compressed fluid from the distributer into the engine cylinders, in succession, on the firing stroke of each piston, for starting the engine so long as the reservoir is in communication with the distributer, and means controlled by fluid pressure from the reservoir for rendering the distributer valves active and inactive.

(3. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines the combination with an engine cylinder, piston and crank shaft; of a reservoir and means for supplyihg the reservoir with compressed combustion supporting fluid, distributing valve mechanism hav:

ing an actuating connection with the engine of invariable angular relation to the crank shaft and adapted to admit compressed fluid from the reservoir into the cylinder in successive charges on the firing strokes of the piston, means for continuously supplying volatile fuel to said fluid to form an explosive mixture therewith, a drivers valve controlling the supply of compressed fluid from said reservoir to the engine, and ignition apparatus independent of the drivers valve and adapted while said valve remains open to automatically andsuccessively ignite said charges in the cylinder on the firin strokes of the piston.

In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines the combination with a plurality of engine cylinders and pistons and a crankshaft, of a reservoir connected with the several cylinders and means for supplying the reservoir with compressed combustion supporting fluid, distributing valve mechanism having an actuating consaid valve remains open to successively ignite said charges in the proper firing order in the cylinders on the firing strokes of their pistons.

'8. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines the combination with an engine cylinder, piston and crank shaft; of areservoir and means for supplying'the reservoir with compressed combustion supporting fluid, a distributing valve havingan actuating connection with the engine of invariable angular relation to the crank shaft and adapted to admit compressed fluid from the v reservoir into the cylinder in an uninterrupted series of successive charges on'the firing strokes of the piston, a drivers valve controlling the supply of compressed fluid from the reservoir to the distributing valve mechanism and thence to the cylinder, a carbureter for continuously supplying'volatile fuel to said fluid to form an exploslve mlxture therewith, ignition apparatus 1ndependent of the drivers valve and adapted While said valve remains open to successively ignite said charges on the firing strokes of the piston, and a valve independent of the drivers valve adapted to successively close the connection between the cylinder and distributing valve when explosions take place in the cylinder while thedrivers valve is open.

9. In starting apparatus the combination with a number of engine cylinders and pistons and a crank shaft; of-a reservoir connected with the several cylinders and means for supplying the reservoir with compressed combustion supporting fluid, distributing valve mechanism having an actuating connection with the engine of invariable angular relation to the crank shaft and adapted to admit compressed fluid'from the reservoir into the several cylinders in an uninterrupted series of successive charges on the firing strokes of the pistons, a drivers valvecontrolling the supply of compressed fluid from the reservoir to the distributing valve mechanisin and thence to the cylinders; a carbureter, ignition apparatus, and automatic valves independ'entzof the drivers valve and adapted, respectively, while said valve remains open tocontinuously supply volatile I with fuel to said fluid for forming an explosive mixture therewith, to successively ignite said charges, and to close the connections between the cylinders and distributing valve mechanism when explosions take place in the cylinders.

10. Instarting mechanism for an internal I combustion engine, the combination of acompressor adapted to be driven by the engine, a reservoir supplied by the compressor withcompressed combustion supporting fluid, a carbureter adapted to supply the starting fluid with volatile fuel, a distributing valve adapted to be driven by the engine and connected with the reservoir and with the engine, a drivers valve controlling the connection between the reservoir and distributing valve, and means operating under control of the drivers valve to start and stop the'operation of the distributing valve "when the compressed startingfluid is admitted thereto and released therefrom.

11. In starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, the combination of a compressor adapted to be driven by the engine, a reservoir supplied by the compressor compressed combustion supporting fluid, a carbureter adapted to su ply the starting fluid with volatile fuel, a istributing valve connected with the reservoir and with the engine, a drivers valve controlling the connection between the reservoir and the distributing valve, and means operating under the control of the drivers valve to automatically' start and stop the compressor.

12. In starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, the combination of a compressor, a reservoir connected with the compressor, a carbureter connected with the reservoir, a distributing valve, and an auxiliary. carbureter through which the compressed starting mixture passes from the reservoir to the distributing valve.

13. In starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, the'combination with acarbureter of a compressor connected with said carbureter, a reservoir supplied by the compressor with compressed combustion supporting fluid, a distributing valve con mg fluid, a carbureter for supplying fuel for the reservoir and with the engine, a drivers valve controlling the connection between the reservoir and distributing valve, and means operating under the control of the drivers valve to start and stop the operation of the distributing valve when the compressed starting fluid is admitted thereto and released therefrom.

15. In starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, the combination of a compressor adapted to be driven by the en gine, a reservoir supplied by the compressor with compressed combustion supporting fluid, a carbureter for supplying fuel for said fluid, a distributing valve connected with the reservoir and with the engine, a drivers valve controlling the connection between the reservoir and the distributing valve, and means operating under the control of the drivers valve to automatically start and stop the compressor 16. In starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, the combination of a compressor adapted to be driven by the engine, a reservoir supplied by the compressor with compressed combustion supporting fluid, 'a'. distributing valve connected with the reservoir and with the engine, a drivers valve controlling the connection between the reservoir and the distributing valve, means operating under the control of the drivers valve to automatically start and stop the compressor, and means also operating under the control of the drivers valve to start and stop the operation ofthe distributing valve when the compressed starting fluid is admitted thereto and cut ofl' therefrom.

17. In starting mechanism for an. internal combustion engine, the combination of a reservoir and means for supplying the reservoir with compressed combustion supporting fluid, a carbureter connected with said reservoir to supply fuel for said fluid, a distributing valve adapted to be driven by the engine and connected with the reservoir and with the engine, a drivers valve controlling the connection between the reservoir and distributing valve, and means operating under the control of the drivers valve to start and stop the operation of the distributing valve when the compressed starting fluid is admitted thereto and cut oil therefrom.

18. In starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, the combination of a compressor adapted to be driven by the engine, a reservoir supplied by the compressor with com ressed combustion supporting fluid, a car ureter connected with the reservoir to supply fuel for said fluid, a distributing valve connected with the reservoir and with the engine, a drivers valve controlling the connection between the reservoir and the distributing valve, and means operating unmeaere der the control of the drivers valveto automatically start and stop the compressor.

19. In starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, the combination of a compressor, a reservoir supplied by the compressor with compressed combustion supporting fluid, a distributing valve connected with said reservoir and with the engine, a connection with the engine for actuating the distributing valve, a pressure chamber connected with the reservoir and having a movable part adapted to render. the distributing valve active or inactive, and a valve controlling the connection between said chamber and reservoir.

20. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the.combination with the carbureter which supplies the engine during its normal operation with the requisite mixture of fuel and air, of a compressor having an actuating connection with the engine and a suction connection with said carbureter, a reservoir connected with said compressor, a distributing valve connected with the reservoir and engine and adapted to be operated'by the engine to admit the mixture to the engine on the power stroke of its piston, and a valve controlling the connection between the distributing valve and the reservoir.

21. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination with the carbureter which supplies the engine during its normal operation with a mixture of fuel and air, of a compressor having an actuating connection with the engine and a suction connection with said carbureter, a reservoir connected with said'compressor, a distributing valve connected with the reser voir and engine and adapted to be operated by the engine to admit the mixture to the engine on the power stroke of the piston, a valve controlling the connection between the distributing valve and the reservoir and an auxiliary carbureter through which the mixture passes from the reservoir to the gine.

22. starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a number of cyl" inders, a reservoir'and means for supplying the reservoir with compressed combus., on supporting fluid, a carbureter adapted to supply the starting fluid with volatile distributing valve mechanism connect with said reservoir and with the sever engine cylinders, and operated in, rota-ti. by the engine, ignition apparatus, and valve operable by compressed fluid from t reservoir and controlling the connection tween the distributing valve mechanism said reservoir, said parts operating to an tomatically deliver into the engine cylind an uninterrupted series of carbureted fluid charges at igniting pressure and to succesice sively ignite such charges in the proper order, on the firing strokes of the pistons when the controlling valve is set and left in position to admit the compressed fluid from the reservoir to the distributing valve mechanism.

23. In starting mechanism for internal combustion engines the combination of a reservoir and means for supplying the reservoir with compressed combustion support ing fluid, a carbureter adapted to supply said fluid with volatile fuel before it is delivered to the engine, a distributing valve connected with said reservoir and With the engine cylinder and having a driving connection with the engine, an outwardly closin'g automatic check valve in the connection between the distributing valve and cylinder,

NIELS A. CHRISTENSEN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. L. Goss, ALICE E. Goss. 

